Gwalia score six in chastening curtain-raiser
Tough Task for Yellawomen on opening day
On paper, this game was just about as tough as they come.
New manager Aym’e Melham had assembled a completely new squad for Ascot’s second season at Step four, and they would face Gwalia United – littered with players boasting International Experience at both senior and junior level in their native Wales – and were only relegated from Step three on goal difference at the end of last season.
Based only a few miles north of Cardiff, they dropped their original Cardiff City Ladies name for the start of the 2024/25 season and adopted Gwalia with a nod to the ancient Welsh term for their nation.
But that was largely inconsequential on a mercifully cooler opening afternoon in the National League, as they would certainly announce their arrival at Step four.
Gwalia totally dominant in one-sided first-half
The parity at kick-off lasted just 100 seconds as Megan Kehoe was on-hand to convert from close range following the first of one of United’s plethora of first-half corners; 1-0 to the Welsh side.
To their credit, Ascot steadied the ship and there were some glimpses of hope – mainly through the determination of forward Symana Zayadi.
But it was 2-0 when Manon Pearce’s cross from the left ended with a first-time finish courtesy of Esme Kilburn-Thompson before Pearce herself easily curled over home ‘keeper Evans – centre of goal – to make it 3-0 in the 35th minute.
Issy Newns inexplicably stabbed wide at the near post and Evans saved brilliantly from Summer Evans’s rising drive when she went clean through, but Esme-Thompson would add a fourth in first-half stoppage time with a deft flick from directly in front of Evans.
Ascot’s only sight of goal came when Macey Walters scuffed her shot wide from long-range just after her side had gone 2-0 down.
Second half follows similar pattern before Ascot keep final half-hour goalless
Incredibly, the visitors would strike the woodwork twice inside the opening 75 seconds of the second half when firstly [number fifteen] struck a post before Pearce clattered the crossbar from long range when following up.
Kilburn-Thomson was then denied by a sensational diving save from Evans – sprawling across her area – but Summer Evans found the top right-hand corner with a speculative free kick from just inside Ascot’s area; 50 minutes played and 5-0.
But Walters had Ascot’s cleanest sight of goal moments later when, clean through, she drew a low save from Norwegian ‘keeper Benedicte Haaland with a thumping low drive.
However, Evans was powerless to prevent number six in the 57th minute. This time, she produced another brilliant save from close range to bravely thwart Kehoe from Pearce’s cross, only for Kilburn-Thompson to tap the rebound into an empty net and complete her treble.
Cerys Jones and Kylie Nolan linked up for Kehoe in the 63rd minute, but Evans was alert once again with a smart save to deny Kehoe who had struck first-time as Nolan cut the ball back from the right.
To their credit, Ascot limited any further damage although Nolan blazed over in added time after the home side had gifted possession with a stray cross-field defensive pass.
The home side must try to find a way of improving when they make the long trip to face newly-promoted Torquay United next weekend. Gwalia themselves didn’t look as polished as expected, but they had far too much class for their hosts.
Ascot United: Emily Evans, Cherish Bigrave, Mia Reid, Lauren Knight, Ellie Rogers, Ines Cipriano, Amy Forward, Emma Goodwin, Symaya Zayadi, Katie Laker, Macey Walters. Subs: Frankie Austin, Monica Maria Pereira Torres Lopes, Zara Nurcellari, Evalyn Haine, Rosalie Coughlin
Venue: The Racecourse, Ascot
Attendance (estimate): 100 (10 away)
Weather: 27c, partly cloudy
Ascot United POM: Emily Evans
Entertainment: 2
Away fans estimate: One-word summary: Inequitable